# Donald Trump's 2016 General Election Campaign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 4, 2016, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901 "2016-05-04T02:37:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 179
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3563 "2016-08-03T18:53:06Z")
We’re really seeing a meltdown now, aren’t we? CNN: [The GOP’s Donald Trump freak-out](http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/03/politics/donald-trump-campaign-disarray/index.html) “Republicans reacted with dismay Wednesday as Donald Trump’s campaign descended into disarray.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3564 "2016-08-03T18:53:48Z")
> [@](#): > > …Obama is not, in fact, his opponent in the election, and cannot be because the Constitution says so… Wait a second! What if he’s right, and Obama _can_ run again? OK, him being right about something is a bit of a stretch, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3565 "2016-08-03T18:57:05Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d ask if Trump was aware of the fact that Obama is not, in fact, his opponent in the election, and cannot be because the Constitution says so. But we all know how familiar The Donald is with his own country’s Constitution. Trump’s staff is still briefing him on the Kaine/Kean issue. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3566 "2016-08-03T18:57:18Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Perhaps Obama could trade his college transcripts for Trump’s tax returns? Call Trump’s campaign and suggest they make the offer. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3567 "2016-08-03T19:09:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’d ask if Trump was aware of the fact that Obama is not, in fact, his opponent in the election, and cannot be because the Constitution says so. But we all know how familiar The Donald is with his own country’s Constitution. But since Obama wasn’t born here, the Constitution doesn’t apply. He can run for as many terms as he wants. Clinton just a cover. It will be revealed that his name is on all the paperwork in invisible ink. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3568 "2016-08-03T19:11:55Z")
Georgia GOP Elector [declares](http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/08/03/georgia-republican-says-he-might-withhold-electoral-college-vote-from-donald-trump/) that he won’t cast his electoral vote for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3569 "2016-08-03T19:20:21Z")
I almost wish I was a prominent Republican so I could publicly declare my disgust for Donald Trump. I mean, I’ve done it dozens of times already, but it never seems to make the news. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3570 "2016-08-03T19:41:55Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I almost wish I was a prominent Republican so I could publicly declare my disgust for Donald Trump. > > I mean, I’ve done it dozens of times already, but it never seems to make the news. I, for one, truly appreciate the bold stand you have taken on this matter. :D:D ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3571 "2016-08-03T19:51:19Z")
I didn’t see if [this](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-transcript-the-republican-nominee-in-his-own-words/2016/08/02/77e9fa68-58eb-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html) latest WP interview has been linked yet but it is a must read. Seriously, look up narcissistic personality disorder and there is a picture of Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3572 "2016-08-03T19:57:46Z")
John Noonan, Jeb!'s foreign policy advisor, who is a former nuke officer, just went OFF on Trump and nuclear weapons. > **[You have to read this amazing tweetstorm by Jeb Bush's national security...](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/08/you-have-read-amazing-tweetstorm-jeb-bushs-national-security-adviser-about-trump/)** > > "I can't get this in one tweet. So bear with me." ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3573 "2016-08-03T20:03:11Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Sidebar here: What’s the source of the “4d chess” line. I only hear it sarcastically now, but I’m assuming at one point it was used sincerely? I don’t know if it’s the original source, but whenever he made a perplexing gaffe which then somehow spiked his approval rating, people on the\_donald subreddit would talk about how he was playing 4d chess. I don’t recommend visiting that by the way, it’s a bunch of manbaby 4channers spouting memes at each other because they don’t know that this is real life. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3574 "2016-08-03T20:05:54Z")
[“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-reaches-new-level-of-panic-over-trumps-candidacy/2016/08/03/de461880-5988-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html) :eek: (The key word there is, y’know, “Gingrich”.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3575 "2016-08-03T21:08:16Z")
Just a few weeks ago, Newt was hoping to be his running mate. Maybe he forgot already. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3576 "2016-08-03T21:13:12Z")
Pence going against Trump re his endorsement of Ryan, Ryan saying _psh, I didn’t ask for Trump’s endorsement anyway,_ Christie defending the Khans, Gingrich opining that Hillary is less unacceptable than the Donald… And Donald: The GOP is more united than ever! (yes, against you, you orange buffoon) ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3577 "2016-08-03T21:40:21Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Georgia GOP Elector [declares](http://politics.blog.ajc.com/2016/08/03/georgia-republican-says-he-might-withhold-electoral-college-vote-from-donald-trump/) that he won’t cast his electoral vote for Trump. They’ve posted an update. > [@](#): > > Update at 5:15 p.m.: The Georgia GOP elector who balked on whether to support Donald Trump has resigned, said Georgia GOP spokesman Ryan Mahoney. More details to come in a separate post. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3578 "2016-08-03T21:52:06Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-reaches-new-level-of-panic-over-trumps-candidacy/2016/08/03/de461880-5988-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html) > > :eek: > > (The key word there is, y’know, “Gingrich”.) That’s amazing. There are so many incredible quotes in there. Along with Gingrich, how about the Charlie Black and Haley Barbour? It’s incredible to read statements from prominent Republicans who still have not abandoned him but are talking about him like he’s someone with a severe intellectual disability or dementia. “He has his good days and bad days”, basically. That’s fine for your grandpa in the nursing home, but how can that be your candidate for president? :smack: There was some comedy gold in the CNN article as well: > [@](#): > > The GOP nominee tried to stem the growing panic – addressing the state of his campaign right at the top of his speech. > “The campaign is doing really well. It’s never been so well united. It’s the best in terms of being united since we began. We are doing incredibly well,” Trump said. > “I think we have never been this united,” said Trump… :eek: Good gravy. Apparently he has never heard the old Shakespearean saw “methinks thou doth protest too much”? Dayum. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3579 "2016-08-03T21:59:55Z")
Another good read from George Lakoff - [Understanding Trump](https://georgelakoff.com/2016/07/23/understanding-trump-2/). > [@George Lakoff](#): > > I will begin with an updated version of an earlier piece on who is supporting Trump and why — and why policy details are irrelevant to them. I then move to a section on how Trump uses your brain against you. I finish up discussing how Democratic campaigns could do better, and why they need to do better if we are to avert a Trump presidency. > > … you will probably not read what I have to say in the NY Times, nor hear it from your favorite political commentators. You will also not hear it from Democratic candidates or party strategists. There are reasons, and we will discuss them later I this piece. I am writing it because I think it is right and it is needed, even though it comes from the cognitive and brain sciences, not from the normal political sources. I think it is imperative to bring these considerations into public political discourse. But it cannot be done in a 650-word op-ed. My apologies. It is untweetable. ---
**Author:** ![Precambrianmollusc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/precambrianmollusc/32/63_2.png) [@Precambrianmollusc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Precambrianmollusc)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3580 "2016-08-03T22:05:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > [“The current race is which of these two is the more unacceptable, because right now neither of them is acceptable,” Gingrich said in a Wednesday morning telephone interview. “Trump is helping her to win by proving he is more unacceptable than she is.”](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-reaches-new-level-of-panic-over-trumps-candidacy/2016/08/03/de461880-5988-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html) > > :eek: > > (The key word there is, y’know, “Gingrich”.) Gingrich, not exactly the go to guy for being faithful and sticking around when the going gets tough . . ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3581 "2016-08-03T22:29:33Z")
Clint Eastwood felt it was necessary to say why he supports Trump, stating that “America is full of a bunch of pussies.” So sayeth the movie tough guy, whose stint in the Army was as a lifeguard. You know that those were _acting roles_, right Clint? ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901/3582 "2016-08-03T22:40:47Z")
Key stat in the brand new FOX poll: Trump’s combo of “very” (15%) and “somewhat” (28%) qualified is outpolled by his 45% “not at all” qualified. Ouch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=178) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/donald-trumps-2016-general-election-campaign/753901.md?page=180)